In October 1958, Detroit traded quarterback Bobby Layne. The fifty-year declaration attributed to him is not securely documented; the record that followed is. Detroit won four championships before the trade, none during the fifty seasons from 1958 through 2007, and won one postseason game. In 2008, the sentence closed at 0–16. Same Old timeLions is the permanent record of what followed.
Lions draw a familiar referee: Brad Rogers gets Jets game
Brad Rogers has worked Detroit's last four regular-season finales, all Lions wins. His 2025 assignments ran slightly above the league's accepted-penalty rate.
Lions draw a familiar referee: Brad Rogers gets Jets game
Curse status
ACTIVE
Season file
2026 Season FileSF-2026 open
Season activity
1 observation logged1 candidate under review
Archive cases
18
Credential applications
18
Credentials held
0
Open Season File
2026 Season File
Formal identifier SF-2026. Open. 1 observation logged. 1 candidate under review. Observations and null findings remain available throughout the season. Annual adjudication determines whether a 2026 candidate becomes the year’s Archive Case.